Didierea madagascariensis

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Didierea madagascariensis
Didierea madagascariensis 3.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Didiereaceae
Genus: Didierea
Species:
D. madagascariensis
Binomial name
Didierea madagascariensis
Synonyms [2]
  • Didierea mirabilisBaill.

Didierea madagascariensis, commonly known as the octopus tree, [3] is a species of Didiereaceae endemic to the spiny thickets of southwestern Madagascar. [2] It was first described scientifically by the French botanist Henri Ernest Baillon in 1880 [4] and is the type species of the genus Didierea .

Contents

It is known in Malagasy as sohongy, sony and soribarika. [5] Sohongy and sony come from the Tanosy dialect word songo meaning "lock of hair" or a rooster's crest or comb [6] possibly referring to its branches that sprawl upwards.

Description

As with all members of the sub-family Didiereoideae, this is a semi-succulent woody, shrub to small tree. [7] It is densely spiny and can grow up to 10 metres (33 ft) tall. [8] Spines are arranged in whorls, mostly of four. [7] Leaves are small and narrow-lanceolate and arranged in rosettes. [7]

References

  1. ↑ Ramanantsialonina, R.N. (2019). "Didierea madagascariensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019 e.T128095524A128098574. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T128095524A128098574.en . Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Didierea madagascariensis Baill". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  3. ↑ Couzens, Dominic (2008). Top 100 Birding Sites of the World. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 166. ISBN   978-0-520-25932-4.
  4. ↑ Baillon, Henri Ernest (1880). "Sur le Didierra". Bulletin Mensuel de la Société Linnéenne de Paris (in French). 1: 258–259.
  5. ↑ de La Beaujardière, Jean-Marie, ed. (2001). "Botanical scientific names". Malagasy Dictionary and Malagasy Encyclopedia.
  6. ↑ Boiteau, Pierre (1999). "sony". Dictionnaire des noms malgaches de végétaux (in French). Vol. III. Editions Alzieu – via Malagasy Dictionary and Malagasy Encyclopedia.
  7. 1 2 3 Rauh, W. 1983. The morphology and systematic position of the Didiereaceae of Madagascar. Blumea 14(3/4): 839–843.
  8. ↑ Dixon, R. (1995). "The Didiereaceae of southern Madagascar". Aloe. 32 (3/4): 72–73. ISSN   0002-6301.


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